Dear Sponsor,
My name is Yelyzaveta, and I will soon be four years old. I live in a city. My dad left a long time ago, so I don’t know anything about him. My mom has health problems and is often in the hospital, so she cannot work.
My sister Vika is my best friend. She used to take me to kindergarten, plays with me, and does my hair beautifully. At Christmas, my mom tells me the story of how Jesus was born, and sometimes we go to church.
Right now, I don’t go to school or kindergarten. I stay at home with my mom or visit my sister.
I love pelmeni (dumplings). At home I eat dumplings, porridge, or sandwiches. On holidays I enjoy oranges and candies. I also have a rabbit and a cat, and I love playing with them. There is lots of snow now, so I ride on sledges with my sister — it’s so much fun.
When I grow up, I want to be as beautiful as my mother. I also love animals and dream of opening a shelter for them one day.
Thank you so much for wanting to help us. It is hard for my mom to manage everything, so your support means a lot. We would be very happy to learn more about you.
I look forward to hearing from you.
With love,
Yelyzaveta
Caseworker Comments:
Meet Yelyzaveta — a bright, cheerful, and joyful little girl whose personality fills every room she enters. At only four years old, she is talkative, confident, and full of life. She loves singing, dancing, and drawing, and she proudly helps her mother by putting away her toys and assisting with simple tasks in the kitchen. She has a big personality and an even bigger heart.
But behind her joyful spirit lies a story marked by hardship.
Yelyzaveta lives with her mother, Irina, who has struggled for many years with serious health problems. Irina has endured a lifetime of loss — she lost her mother as a child, grew up without stable family support, and later faced the death of her husband. She has battled chronic illness, poverty, and seasons of deep loneliness. Today, Irina’s health is extremely fragile. She suffers from diabetes, liver cirrhosis, and severe gastrointestinal issues, and she is often hospitalized. Because of her condition, she cannot work and receives no disability pension. The family survives mainly on borrowed money and the small help her adult daughters can provide.
Their living situation adds another layer of difficulty. The apartment they live in was inherited by Irina from her late husband. Although the ownership has not yet been officially registered, there are no other heirs. For many years, her husband’s family lived there, and the atmosphere was deeply troubled, marked by long‑term alcohol abuse. One by one, the mother‑in‑law, father‑in‑law, brother‑in‑law, and eventually Irina’s husband passed away from alcohol‑related illnesses. After her husband’s death, the apartment remained with Irina and the children.
The home has not been renovated in many years and is in neglected condition. All rooms carry a persistent smell of tobacco smoke. Mold is visible in several areas, and cleanliness is difficult to maintain due to Irina’s health limitations. The apartment consists of two small living rooms with basic, worn furniture, a kitchen, a bathroom, and a toilet. Heating is available, but the family has outstanding debts for gas and water utilities. Though the structure is livable, it is far from safe or comfortable for a young child.
Despite everything, Irina loves her children deeply. Her older daughters, now young adults, do what they can to support their mother and care for their little sister. When Irina is in the hospital, they step in — cooking, cleaning, and making sure Yelyzaveta feels safe and loved. Their lives are not easy, but they remain united.
Yelyzaveta is the light of this family. She adores her mother and her pets, and she has a natural leadership quality that shines even at her young age. She once attended kindergarten, but the family can no longer afford the food fees and other required payments, so she now stays at home. Even so, she remains open, friendly, and full of joy — a reminder of God’s grace in the midst of hardship.
This family cannot overcome their challenges alone. Yelyzaveta needs stability, proper nutrition, clothing, and the chance to attend kindergarten again. Irina needs the peace of knowing her daughter is cared for while she battles her illnesses.
Your sponsorship could be an answer to their prayers. It would bring dignity, hope, and stability into a home that has known far too much suffering. It would give Yelyzaveta the chance to grow, learn, and flourish — to become the joyful, confident girl God created her to be.
Supporting this family means stepping into their story with compassion and becoming a tangible expression of God’s love in their lives.
